Display device



Dec. 19, *1967 R. F. REX 3,358,397

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed NOV. l2, 1965 P0652 /1' @EX 4 7' TOP/VEY UnitedStates Patent O 3,358,397 DISPLAY DEVICE Roger F. Rex, Hales Corners,Wis., assignor t Dispiay Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 507,340 Claims. (Cl. 40--77)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a display panelaszembly wherein a number of panel holders are arranged end-toend on acommon support. An elongated light assembly extends through the interiorof the panel holders and is part of the support frame for the panelholders. Each panel holder includes a pair of spaced end caps betweenwhich the display panels are supported. The end caps include inneropenings the walls of which engage bearing surfaces on the lightassembly and provide a bearing support upon which the panel holders arefree to rotate.

This invention relates to display devices and, more particularly, tosuch devices as are adapted to carry a number of display panels and arecapable of rotating to change the panel exposed for view.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved andversatile display device offering an increased number of available paneldisplays.

Another object of this invention is to provide this versatility andlatitude of available displays in a display device having a simplifiedand economical construction.

A further more specific object of this invention is to provide asimplified and improved arrangement capable of supporting a plurality ofmultiple display panel holders for independent movement relative to eachother.

Other objects and advantages willl be pointed out in, or be apparentfrom, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of theembodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevation of a display device constructed inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof illustrating two available positions ofthedisplay panel holders;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded section view of the end of the display holderopposite to the end illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section View taken along line 6 5 of FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawing, display device 19 includes a pair ofdisplay panel holders 12 and 14 mounted on a frame 16 for independentrotation. Frame 16 includes base 1S and panel holder support 20. In amanner to be described more completely hereinafter, each panel holder iscapable of carrying a number of display panels 22 but for convenienceonly a portion of one panel is illustrated in the drawing.

The panel holders being independently rotata-ble and each being capableof carrying more than one display panel provides, in addition to anincreased number of available display panels, a greater variety ofavailable display panel combinations. The display device constructed inaccordance with this invention achieves this versatility of display withan eicient use of a minimum number of structural elements by combiningmultiple functions in various structural elements.

Structurally each panel holder includes a triangular 3,358,397 PatentedDec. 19, 1967 ICC shaped end cap 24 and 26 in panel holder 12 and 28 and30 in panel holder 14. End caps 24 and 30 are of identical constructionand end caps 26 and 28 are of identical construction. End cap 30 isillustrated in FIG. 3 and ncludes a planar plate 32 having turned anges34 and 36 extending around the periphery thereof and spaced from eachother to provide an inwardly facing groove 38. Sim ilarly, end cap 28(see FIG. 5) includes a planar plate 40 having relatively spaced anges42 and 44 extending around the periphery of end caps 28 and providing agroove 45 facing inwardly toward groove 38. Connector strip 48 extendsbetween the corners 50 and 52 of the end caps and has turned ends 54 and56 fixed to plates 32 and 40 by means of rivets 58. Identical connectorstrips extend between corners 60 and 62 of end cap 30 and correspondingcorners in end cap 28 to complete a connection between caps 28 and 3).

The structure of end cap 39 is repeated in end cap 24 and that of endcap 28 is repeated in end cap 26 and end caps 24 and 26 are connected byan identical connector strip arrangement extending between correspondingpairs of end cap corners. This completes the panel holder assemblieswith the ends of each panel holder being provided with opposed sets ofinwardly facing grooves spaced around the periphery of the panel holdersto receive and hold a number of elongated display panels therebetween.More particularly, a rectangular display panel can be positioned with anedge in the groove between corners 50 and 60 of end cap 30 and alsobetween corners 60, 62 and 62, 50 thereof, and of course each panelextends across to end cap 28 where the opposite edges thereof arereceived in groove 44 between corresponding corners of end cap 28. Asimilar panel arrangement is provided in P display panel holder 12.

As is perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 6, the connecting strips aregenerally channel shaped in cross section so that the longitudinal endsof the display panels extending between end caps 24 land 26 rest againstthe legs thereof, for example legs 48a and 481) as illustrated in FIG.6. To complete the connection of the display panels in the panel holdersa clamping strip 64 is provided and is also channel shaped in crosssection to fit over strip 48 so that the longitudinal display paneledges are clamped between legs 64a and 48a and between legs 64b and 48b.Strips 48 and 64 each include openings 66 and 69which are aligned whenthe strips are engaged' and receive selftapping screw 71 to connect thestrips.

It will 'be appreciated that three such connecting and clamping stripcombinations are provide in each panel holder with one combinationextending between each corresponding pair of corners of the end members.This arrangement securely positions the display panels in the panelholders without interfering with the copy on the panels. The abovedescription is equally applicable to panel holders 12 and 14 and to eachcorresponding pair of corners and display panel holding arrangements.

An effective and simple support arrangement is provided for the panelholders. Plate 32 of end cap 30 includes a central hub 70 defining athrough hole 72 in the end cap. Panel holder support 20 of frame 16includes a threaded stud 74 extending from one of its opposite ends.Stud 74 extends through hub 70v and opening 72 and receives nut 76 whichsecures end cap 30 to support 20 while leaving the panel holder free torotate about stud 74. This bearing support is repeated at 78 inconnection with end cap 26 of panel holder 12 thereby providing abearing support for the outer, oppositely facing ends of the displaypanel holder.

At the inner adjacent ends of each of panel holders 12 and 14 (endmembers 26 and 28) plates 40 and 40a are provided with co-axial, alignedopenings 80 and 80a which are also coaxially arranged with stud 74 andopening 72. The Walls of opening 80, 80a and 72 providing bearingsurfaces. Base portion 18 includes hub 84 which fits into both openings80 and 80a of end caps 40 and 40a to engage and support the end caps 40and 40a while leaving them free for rotation. Hub 84 and stud 74, one ateach axial end, provide bearing surfaces engaging the walls of openings80, 80a and 72 upon which the panel holder rotates.

lIn this manner the panel holders are securely mounted on frame 16 andare supported for independent rotation with respect to each other by anarrangement located wholly within the display holders leaving theexterior thereof unobstructed to receive the display panels.

Structurally base 18 of the frame includes leg 86 extending betweenpanel holders 12 and 14 and having cross member 88 attached to the lowerend thereof. Mounts 90 and 92 are connected to cross member 88 ou bothsides of leg 86, preferably adjacent the opposite ends of cross member88. Mounts 90 and 92 are provided with keyhole-shaped holes 93 so thatdisplay device 10 ycan be placed either on a horizontal support surfacein the manner illustrated in FIG. l or can be hung on a wall.

A second cross member 94 is connected to the opposite end of leg 86 andprovides a point for attaching panel holder support 20 to base 18 asillustrated in FIG. 4. Hub 84 is also attached to cross member 94 and inthis regard, and to facilitate attachment, hub 84 is not completelycylindrical but includes a 'flatened portion 96 in engagement with crossmember 94.

Preferably panels 22 are transparencies, made of translucent materialand panel lholder support 20 takes the form of alight fixture to enhancethe visual effect achieved Withthe display. Preferably support 20 is aiiuorescent xture including iiuorescent bulb 98 and a support housing100. Where the light fixture is used it forms the panel holder support20 to thereby make most effective use of the basic structural elementsof the display device.

Preferably an indexing mechanism is provided to hold each panel holderin a desired angular position. With reference to FIG. 3, index plate 102is attached to plate 32 of end cap 30 and includes a number ofindentations 104 spaced around the plate on the same radius. A springbiased ball 106 is positioned in projection 108 on the support frame andspring 110 urges the ball toward the index plate whereby the ball willseat in a particular depression to set the display holder in `thedesired angular position. An identical index mechanism is provided atend 24.

The display device constructed in accordance with this inventionprovides a versatile arrangement with a simplified construction bymaking maximum utilization of the structural elements. For example, theend caps not only cooperate in mounting the display panels in the panelholders but also cooperate in providing the bearing support for thepanel holders and the light fixture, when used, forms a part of thesupport structure and bearing support for the panel holders. Moreover,the support and bearing arrangement is disposed interiorly of thedisplay panel holders leaving the exterior thereof free and unobstructedfor receipt of display panels. It will also be appreciated that morethan two display holders can be mounted using the same type ofarrangement, the inner adjacent end caps being supported on bearingssuch as hub 84 and the outermost end caps engaging the frame.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

I claim: v

1. A display device comprising, in combination,

a plurality of elongated display panel holders arranged end-to-end ingeneral alignment,

each of said panel holders including a plurality of sets of panelreceiving means, said sets relatively spaced along the longitudinal axisof said panel holders and the panel receiving means of each setrelatively spaced around said axis 4to receive and support a pluralityof display panels on each of said panel holders,

a support frame for said panel holders including panel holder engagingmeans and a base portion, said panel holder engaging means comprising alight assembly extending generally coextensively through said displayholders and extending longitudinally of said display device within andthrough the areas defined by each of said sets of panel receiving means,

means connected to and providing support for each set of said panelreceiving means and defining first bearing means spaced longitudinallyin said panel holders and disposed within the areas defined by saidpanel receiving means, and

said panel holder engaging means including means defining secondlongitudinally spaced bearing means connected to said light assembly andengaging said first bearing means and supporting said panel holders forindependent rotation;

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein each of said panel holdersinclude relatively spaced end cap means and are arranged with ladjacentend cap means of adjacent panel holders facing toward each other and theouter end cap means of the outermost of said panel hold-k ers facingoppositely, said end cap means defining said first bearing means andsaid display panel receiving means provided on said end cap means andspaced radially outwardly from and around said first bearing means,

and including means extending between and connecting the end cap meansof each of said panel holders for joint rotation.

3. A display device comprising, in combination,

a plurality of elongated display panel holders arranged end-to-end,

each of said panel holders including plate means spaced longitudinallyin said panel holders and extending transversely of the longitudinalaxis of said panel holders, each of said plate means including meansdefining an inner opening to provide first bearing means for said panelholders,

a plurality of display panel receiving means on each of said plate meansand relatively spaced circumferentially with respect to said firstbearing means openings,

a support frame for said panel holders and including panel holderengaging means comprisingra light assembly extending generallycoextensively through said display holders and extending longitudinallyof said panel holders and also including means defining longitudinallyspaced second bearing means con- Vnected to said light assembly andengaging said first bearing means to support said plate means forrotation,

and means extending between and connecting the plate means of eachholder for joint rotation so that the plate means of each panel holderare jointly rotatable and said panel holders are rotatable independentlyof each other.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein said plate means define thelongitudinal ends of each of said panel holders and said panel holderengaging means extends through the first bearing means openings in theinner adjacent plate means of adjacent panel holders and project intothe first bearing means openings in the outer plate means of theoutermost of said panel holders.

5. The display device of claim 4 wherein said display panel receivingmeans are spaced radially outwardly from said first bearing meansopeningsand are relatively spaced circumferentially with respect to saidfirst bearing means openings and around the periphery of said platemeans so that a plurality of display panels can be spaced around theperiphery of said panel holders.

6. The display device of claim 5 wherein said panel holders comprise rstand second panel holders,

said support frame also includes a base portion connected to andextending from said light assembly at a point intermediate said firstand second panel holders,

and said second bearing means including a generally cylindrical hubco-axial with, engaged in, and extending between the iirst bearing meansopenings of the inner adjacent end plate means of said first and secondpanel holders, said hub connected to one of said light assembly and saidbase portion, and said second bearing means also including bearingprojections at the opposite ends of said light assembly extending intoand engaging the outer, oppositely facing plate means of the outermostof said panel holders.

7. The display device of claim 6 including indexing means connectedbetween said support frame and each of said panel holders and operativeto hold each of said panel holders in a desired angular position.

8. The display device of claim 5 wherein said display panel receivingmeans are in the form of grooves extending around each of said platemeans and opening toward each other from the plate means of each of saidpanel holders so that a display panel can be engaged between the groovesof the plate means in each of said panel holders,

said means extending between and connecting the plate means of eachpanel holder for joint movement comprising a plurality of elongatedmembers relatively spaced around said grooves and defining therebetweensupport areas for display panels,

and clamping members releasably connected to said elongated plate meansconnecting members for clamping a display panel therebetween.

9. A display device comprising, in combination,

a plurality of elongated display panel holders arranged end-to-end,

each of said panel holders including plate means spaced longitudinallyin said panel holders and extending transversely of the longitudinalaxis of said panel holders, each of said plate means having a radialextension terminating in wall means defining an inner opening, saidinner opening walls providing lirst bear- 5 ing means for said panelholders,

a plurality of display panel receiving means on each of said plate meansand relatively spaced circumferentially with respect to said firstbearing means openings,

a support frame for said panel holders including panel holder engagingmeans extending longitudinally of said panel holders and including meansdefining longitudinally spaced second bearing means disposed in saidplate means openings and engaging the walls thereof, engagement betweensaid second bearing means and said walls providing rotational supportfor said panel holders,

and means extending between and connecting the plate means of eachholder for joint rotation so that the plate means of each panel holderare jointly rotatable and said panel holders are rotatable independentlyof each other.

10. The display device of claim 9 wherein said support frame includeshub means having a generally circular 25 outer periphery and an axialextension in said display device, said hub means extending between andengaging the inner opening walls of adjacent plate means of adjacentpanel holders whereby said hub means provides at least a part of saidsecond bearings means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 544,504 S/l895 Deters et al 40-77645,377 3/1900 Stevenson 40-77 35 2,323,157 6/1943 seneeae 40-682,600,157 6/1952 Chresrine 40-77 2,728,155 12/1955 Hunter 4o-77 0 EUGENER. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner.

9. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATEDDISPLAY PANEL HOLDERS ARRANGED END-TO-END, EACH OF SAID PANEL HOLDERSINCLUDING PLATE MEANS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID PANEL HOLDERS ANDEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PANEL HOLDERS,EACH OF SAID PLATE MEANS HAVING A RADIAL EXTENSION TERMINATING IN WALLMEANS DEFINING AN INNER OPENING, SAID INNER OPENING WALLS PROVIDINGFIRST BEARING MEANS FOR SAID PANEL HOLDERS, A PLURALITY OF DISPLAY PANELRECEIVING MEANS ON EACH OF SAID PLATE MEANS AND RELATIVELY SPACEDCIRCUMFERENTIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST BEARING MEANS OPENINGS, ASUPPORT FRAME FOR SAID PANEL HOLDERS INCLUDING PANEL HOLDER ENGAGINGMEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID PANEL HOLDERS AND INCLUDING MEANSDEFINING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SECOND BEARING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAIDPLATE MEANS OPENINGS AND ENGAGING THE WALLS THEREOF, ENGAGEMENT BETWEENSAID SECOND BEARING MEANS AND SAID WALLS PROVIDING ROTATIONAL SUPPORTFOR SAID PANEL HOLDERS, AND MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTING THEPLATE MEANS OF EACH HOLDER FOR JOINT ROTATION SO THAT THE PLATE MEANS OFEACH PANEL HOLDER ARE JOINTLY ROTATABLE AND SAID PANEL HOLDERS AREROTATABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER.